Bath 39 Leeds 3: Bath eye title

For once there were no losers. Bath and Leeds left the Recreation Ground with their missions very much accomplished

Bath's Michael Claassens is tackled by Ceiron Thomas during his side's victory (Matthew Impey)
For once there were no losers. Bath and Leeds, 11th and plum last respectively
on New Year’s Day, left the Recreation Ground with their missions very much
accomplished.

Neil Back will be smarting after this five-try demolition, but his team of
hard-boiled professionals did their job when they beat Worcester 12-10 a
fortnight ago to guarantee survival.

Bath had a playoff place to play for; a minor miracle given their league
position coming into 2010, and it was they who played as if the result
mattered, not just in terms of determination — for Leeds had plenty of that
— but in terms of errors made.

There was an edge to their game — an ambitious edge, and a nervous one.

It took a full 20 minutes, and the advantage of an extra man with Andy
Gomarsall in the sin bin, before the scoreboard and Bath came to life.